Scrappy Log Cabin Pinnie Tutorial

A few years ago I did a Log Cabin Pincushion Tutorial. I like to make these little pinnies to give as bonus gifts with swaps, bee blocks, at sew days, etc. It's a quick project, and it's a great way to use up tiny scraps.

Project Quilting Challenge 9.6 this week is "SCRAPtastic". I'm running low on my stash of pin cushions, so I decided to make a new rainbow batch. This time around I decided to use muslin as a foundation to make the process quicker and easier (less trimming and fuss this way). Here's another quick tutorial on how to make this version of my scrappy log cabin pincushions.

Supplies:
One 5" x 5" piece of muslin or white/cream fabric for the foundation.
One 5" x 5" piece of fabric for bottom.
A bunch of small scraps.
Poly-Fil

You'll also need general sewing tools & notions such as:
Sewing Machine
Iron
Thread
Scissors
Quilting Ruler
Rotary Cutter
Hand-sewing needle
Pins 

Finished size after stuffing: approximately 4" x 4"

*Note: I like to roughly trim my scraps into square/rectangular shapes for this method. The pieces and seam allowance don't have to be perfect. That's the beauty of using the foundation.

Step 1:
Select two similarly sized small scraps. Place them right sides together, aligning the raw edges on one side, onto the foundation near the center. Stitch along that lined-up raw edge with 1/4" seam allowance.

Step 2:
Turn & Press.

Step 3: 
Working clockwise (or counterclockwise if you prefer), select another scrap that is approximately the length of the first two after they have been stitched together and pressed. Place the third scrap right sides together, perpendicular to the first seam and line up the raw edges along one side. Stitch. Turn & Press.

Step 4:
Continue in this manner until you have worked all the way around and covered the entire foundation. It's OK to go over the edges of the foundation.

Step 5:
Trim back down to 5" x 5".

Step 6:
Place the log cabin rights sides together with a 5" x 5" piece of fabric for the bottom. Stitch around all four sides, leaving a small opening in the center of one side for turning. Clip the corners.

Step 7:
Turn right sides out through the opening. Gently poke out the corners with a turning tool (knitting needle, chopstick, etc). Fold in the seam allowance at the opening. Press.

Step 8:
Fill with Poly-Fill.

Step 9:
Hand-stitch the opening closed with a slip stitch (ladder stitch) for an invisible seam.

Hooray! You're done! Tag me on Instagram @trina_peterson. I'd love to see your awesome Pinnie. :)

Essentials Tote by HungryHippie Sews

A couple weeks ago I finally got around to trying out my friend, Natalie Santini's (HungryHippie Sews) Essentials Tote pattern. This bag is awesome. I'm not sure how I survived before without it.

Finishing at about 19" x 19" x 4", the Essentials Tote is the perfect size for any on-the-go gal like me who is constantly lugging around crafty projects, kid paraphernalia, books, tech gear, etc. I adore the clear vinyl pockets, because I can see where I stashed all of my hundred different things!

The bag is also really fun to put together. I enjoyed working with the vinyl, and the instructions are great! I loved my first bag so much that I wanted to make a couple more. I used up some stash fabric, and I tried a couple slight variations.

I made my first bag according to the instructions, including all pockets. There are clear vinyl pockets on both sides of the exterior and lining. That's a lot of pockets! I love being able to keep everything organized and still visible. The lining pockets are divided, so there are a ton of compartments in this thing. The only change I made to the instructions on this bag was adding the rivets near the top of the straps. I am loving the look of rivets these days. Plus they are fun to install, and they add some extra strength.

The next Essentials Tote I made was with some New York Yankees fabric. This bag has one vinyl pocket on the exterior. I also like this bag without the pockets, because it's less cluttered on the inside. It would be excellent for someone who doesn't carry a lot of tiny things, or someone who likes separate smaller pouches for organization. This bag is available for purchase in my Etsy shop here.

I made a third Essentials Tote in this gorgeous Anna Maria Horner fabric. I put one exterior vinyl pocket on this bag, and instead of using vinyl for the inside pockets, I made them with the coordinating fabric. The inside of the bag looks so beautiful with those pockets! This bag is also for sale in my Etsy shop here.

Get the Essentials Tote pattern by Natalie in her Etsy shop here! It's a great pattern, and I bet you'd find yourself making at least a few of them!

Project Quilting 9.5: The Oslo Craft Bag

Project Quilting Challenge Five this year is "A Stitch In Time". This one stumped me a little bit at first. My goal for this season (other than completing all the challenges) is to make projects that I can use on a frequent basis. I wasn't sure how I was going to incorporate this challenge theme into an accessory that I could use a lot.

Then I remembered how my husband bugs me about putting his stuff back (mainly tools) into their correct locations after I borrow things. He hates it when I borrow the screw driver and leave it on the counter instead of putting it back in the tool bag. And rightly so! I get super annoyed when he uses the shipping tape and doesn't put it back in the shipping supplies box (which he does on a regular basis, just so we're clear).

Eventually I came to the conclusion that organization was going to be my focus this week, because it definitely saves time. Nothing drives me crazier than having to hunt for something I know I've got, and I just can't find it!

Sara Lawson's Oslo Craft Bag was on my short list of to-sew items, so I knew this was what I had to make this week. This is a free pattern that is available to her newsletter subscribers. All you have to do is sign up on her website, and she'll send it to you automatically. Don't worry: she's not a spammer. She also just came out with the video to go with it last week, which makes it even better if you're a visual learner like me.

This bag was really fun to put together. I added the rivets on the handles and handle tabs, because rivets are my new favorite thing. I also chose to hand-stitch the binding around the top, because I prefer it in specific cases like this. I love this bag, and I'm so glad I got it done before Modern Stitching Affair in April! It will be great to keep all of my notions and tools organized at the retreat. The bag has a permanent home right next to my sewing table, so it's definitely something I use on a daily basis. The finished size is about 14" x 7.5" x 6.5".

Zipper Squared: A Sewing Pattern

I have been wanting to write this sewing pattern for a couple years now, but having two babies has taken priority over a lot of my sewing and creative time.

I finally found the time to get this done over the past couple months, and I'm excited to finally be able to introduce the Zipper Squared sewing pattern!

The shape of this pouch and curve of the zipper make it look more complicated than it actually is. A confident beginner should be able to tackle this project with relative ease. My pattern testers included both beginner and experienced bag makers.

This Fat-Quarter-Friendly pattern boasts no raw edges or exposed seams inside the finished pouches!

The pattern includes written instructions with helpful tips and tricks alongside full-color photographs to demonstrate the steps throughout the project.

There are two sizes included with this pattern. Finished measurements are:

Large: 8" x 8" x 2"
Small: 4.5" x 4.5" x 1.5"

The large pouch is a great size for a sewing machine foot pedal, travel iron, power cords, etc. I love the small pouch for my ear buds, and I use the lobster clasp to clip it onto whatever bag I'm carrying for the day. The small size is also great for small cosmetic items like lipstick and powder.

These pouches make great gifts, and the style is sure to impress. They are really quick to stitch up, and they would also make great items to sell at craft fairs!

You can purchase this pattern in my Etsy shop. I offer a PDF Digital Instant Download version that is immediately accessible after purchase. If you don't have access to a printer, you can purchase a printed version instead, which I print on my home printer in full color and mail to you via USPS First Class Mail.

Don't forget to finish off your pouches with zipper pull charms! You'll find those in my Etsy shop, too! :)